Refrigerator



F. CONRAD ET AL 1,982,375

REFRIGERATOR Filed July 8, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1934.

INVENTOR F.Conrm;d & C. Aolborg BY ATTORNEY WITNESS Nov. 27, 1934- F.CONRAD ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed July 8, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HI T |I'll.

NVENTOR F -Gonrad l- C- Anibal-Q ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1934. F. CONRAD ET ALREFRIGERATOR Filed July '8 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR EConrod C.Annual-Q BY 0v, Q1; wwv

ATTORNEY WITNESS Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STA REFRIGERATOR FrankConrad and Christian Aalborg, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to WestinghouseElectric and Manufacturing Company, a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication July 8, 1927, Serial No. 204,401

12 Claims.

Our invention relates to refrigerators, more particularly torefrigerators of the compression type and of small capacity, suchas aresuitable for household use, and it has for an object to provideapparatus of the character designated which shall operate moreeffectively, quietly, efficiently and reliably than apparatus of thischaracter heretofore constructed. It has fora further object to providea refrigerator in which all of the working or moving parts are entirelyenclosed in a hermetically sealed casing, whereby leakage of therefrigerant fluid, as well as lubricant, is prevented.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent upon the furtherdescription of our invention, may be attained by the employment of theapparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, in sectional elevation, showing one form ofrefrigerator arranged in .accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 3, of thecompression unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line IIIIII, of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are partial, sectional views taken on the lines IV+IV andV--V of Fig. 3, respectively; a

Fig. 6 is a view, in elevation, of that portion of the compressor unitshown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of thecondenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the condenser with the hood removed;

Fig. 9 is a view, in elevation, of the condenser;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of theevaporator or cooling element shown in Fig. l; and,

Fig. 11 is an end view, partly in section and partly in elevation, ofthe evaporator shown in Fig. 10.

It has heretofore been proposed to construct domestic refrigeratingmachines wherein the compressor and the motor for driving the compressorare hermetically sealed in a single, fluidtight casing so as to avoidthe requirement for a stufling box or gland in order to prevent leakageof both the refrigerating fluid and the lubriv eating fluid. However, inmachines of this charact-er, it has been customary to provide anexternal fan driven by a separate and independent mo or for creating aforced circulation of air over the condenser in order that the necessaryheat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor may be dissipated.However, in machines of this character, the external fan requiresperiodic attention, such as oiling, etc., so that the idea of providinga refrigerating machine capable of operating indefinitely without anycare or attention is defeated. As a result of the foregoing, it has beenproposed to locate the compressormotor unit together with its enclosingcasing, as well as the condenser, upon the top of the refrigerator box,and to permit the heat generated by both the compressor and the motor,as well as the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor to beradiated to the atmosphere. However, there is some objection to thisarrangement in that the compressor-motor unit, as well as the condenser,must be located in an exposed position where'it is open to viewand whereit. becomes rather unsightly in a relatively short period of time due tothe natural deposit thereon of dust, dirt, grease, etc.

We have, therefore, devised a form of refrigerating machine in which allthe moving or working parts are totally enclosed, but which, atthe sametime, permits the compressor and. motor unit, as well as the condenser,to be so located, with respect to the refrigerator box structure, thatthey are entirely hidden fromview, so that the appearance of the entirerefrigerating unit may always be of the highest order. We accomplish theforegoing by providing a hermetically sealed compressor-motor unit in abottom or lower compartment of the refrigerator box structure, the unitbeing so arranged that the heat generated by both the compressor and themotor is radiated through the walls of the enclosing casing. Inaddition, the condenser is preferably located upon the rear wall of thebox and is arranged to have a natural draft circulation of air thereoverfor absorbing the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor. In thisway, the motor-compressor unit, as well as the condenser unit, may beproperly cooled without requiring any external fan, or separate motorfor driving the fan. At the same time, the motor-compressor unit, aswell as the condenser, are so located that they are not exposed to viewand, consequently, do not detract from the appearance of therefrigerator box structure.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of ourinvention, we show in Fig. 1 a refrigerator box structure 10, embodyingfront and rear walls 11 and 12. Located in the upper portion of therefrigerator box structure is a cooling or food storage compartment 13,and located in the lower portion is a machin ery compartment 14. Thecooling compartment 13 is provided with an access door 15 in the usualmanner, while the machinery compartment 14, is preferably provided inall of its walls, except the rear wall, with suitable ventilatingopenings or louvers 16. The rear wall of the machinery compartment maybe left entirely open except for the box supporting structure 17 and themachinery supporting structure 18.

Located within the machinery compartment 14 is a compressor-motor unit19 which is supported upon a suitable bracket 20 carried by themachinery supporting structure 18. Also supported upon the machinerysupporting structure 18 and located upon the rear wall 12 of the box isa condenser 21, while disposed within the cooling compartment 13 is thecooling element or evaporator 22. The evaporator 22 is supported upon aremovable portion 23, forming a part of the rear wall and carried by thesupporting structure 18, the opening in the rear wall being sufiicientto permit the evaporator 22 to be withdrawn therethrough. From theforegoing description, it will be apparent that the motor-compressorunit 19, condenser 21 and the evaporator 22, together with the machinerysupporting structure 18, may be entirely removed from the refrigeratorbox structure as a single unit. This is especially advantageous inservicing the machine as the entire machinery may be readily replacedalthough its different elements are located in relatively differentportions of the box structure.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, for a detaileddescription of the motorcompressor unit 19. As shown in Fig. 2, weprovide a casing 31 consisting of a central cylinder or sleeve member 32equipped at its respective ends with suitable enclosures 33 and 34. Theenclosures 33 and '34 are retained against the cylinder 32 by means offlange rings 35 and tension members or bolts 36 spaced circumferentiallyabout the cylinder 32 and so arranged as to hold both the enclosures 33and 34 in fluid-tight engagement with the central cylinder 32. Suitablegaskets or soldering strips 3'7 may be provided between the enclosuresand the cylinder for insuring a hermetic seal.

Provided within the cylinder 32 is a partition wall or spider 38dividing the casing 31 into, what may be termed, a motor-chamber 39and-a compressor-chamber 41. Located within the motor chamber 39 is amotor 40 having its stationaryelement 41 supported directly in thecylinder 32 and its rotating element 42 connected by means of an annularcup-shaped member 43 to a drive shaft 44. The latter is retained insuitable bearings 45 and 46 provided in a longitudinally ex-.

tending sleeve 4'7 formed upon the partition wall 38. I

Located within the compressor chamber 41 is a compressor 51 which is ofthe reciprocating, oscillating cylinder type. The compressor 51comprises essentially a crank pin 52 provided on one end of the driveshaft 44. Operatively connected to the crank pin 52 is a piston rod- 53rigidly secured to a piston 54. Associated with the piston'54 is acylinder 55 arranged to oscillate upon a journal 56 located in a faceplate 57. The face plate 57 forms with a portion of the partition 38 asuction chamber 58 having a refrigerant vapor inlet 59, shown in Fig. 2.Suitable inlet ports 61 are provided in the face plate 57, as well asthe cylinder 55, for permitting the admission of refrigerant vapor tothe latter, while suitable discharge ports 62 are located oppositely inthe cylinder. Suitable discharge valves 63 of the spring-flap type areassociated with the discharge ports 62.

The cylinder 55 is retained in bearing engagement with'the face plate 57by means of a yoke 64. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the yoke 64 iscomposed of suitable lugs 65 provided on the partition wall 38, and abridge plate 66 secured to the lugs by means of screws or bolts 67. Thecylinder 55,.as well as the bridge plate 66, are provided withcooperative journal portions 68 which together with the journal 56maintain the axis of oscillation of the cylinder. A spring 69 isinterposed between the bridge plate 66 and the cylinder 55 for retainingthe latter at all times in bearing engagement with the face plate 5'7.

Referring again to .Figs. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the partitionwall 38 is provided with drainage holes '71 for permitting the passageof lubricant, while located in the upper portion of the partition wall38 is a'suitable opening '72 for permitting the passage of refrigerantvapor. Provided in the upper portion of the casing is a compressedrefrigerant vapor outlet '70.

Secured to the compressor end of the drive shaft 44 is a pinion '73which meshes with a gear 74 journaled upon a pin '75 fixed in thepartition wall 38, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The pinion 73 andthe gear '74 are utilized for effecting a splash system of lubricationfor the working parts of the compressor and the motor, a

'level of lubricant being normally maintained posed about the pinion andgear '73 and '74, as

well as the compressor, is a baille 7'7 which defines with the casing 31a lubricant splash chamber '78. The lower portion '79 of the baffle '78is preferably perforated so that the foreign particles are preventedfrom reaching the gear '74.

As shown in Fig. 3, the axis of the compressor is inclined at a slightangle below the horizontal but above the level of the lubricant, thepinion '73 and the gear '74 being utilized to splash the lubricant uponthe working parts of the compressor. The gear '74 is preferablyconstructed of some material, suchas fiber, which will insure silentoperation. The pinion '73 is provided with a counter-weighted portion'79 so arranged as to compensate for the unbalance created by rotationof the crank pin.

Lubricant is conveyed to the bearings 45 and 46 by means of spiralgrooves 81 provided in the drive shaft 44,- the lubricant dischargedfrom the bearing 45 being returned to the lubricant chamber '78 by apassage 82 located in the sleeve 4'7. Lubricant is conveyed to thecylinder 55 by means of passages 83 and 84 provided in the connectingrod 53 and the piston 54, respectively. Suitable supporting feet 85 areprovided on the cylinder 32 for supporting the entire unit upon thebracket 20. 1

Referring now to Figs. '7 to 9 inclusive, the condenser 21 comprisesessentially a refrigerant vapor intake manifold 91 and a refrigerantcondensate outlet manifold 92. Connected at their respective ends to themanifold are two condenser coils 93 and 94 connected in parallel and soarranged that free drainage is insured to the condensate outlet 92, thecoils being preferably formed in the manner illustrated. A housing 95encloses the condensing coils 93 and 94 and forms a vertically extendingflue 96, open at the lower end 97 and provided at its upper end with aperforated hood 98, so arranged as to prevent stoppage of the airpassage through the flue as may be caused by the placing of any foreignarticles upon the top of the flue. As shown in Fig. 1, the casing 95 ispreferably extended above the condenser to the top of the refrigeratorbox in order to produce as much draft as possible. Suitable brackets 99are provided within the casing 95 for retaining the coils 93 and 94 inposition. Apertures 100 are provided in the frame structure 18 andin,the condenser supports 95 for the reception of suitable bolts tofasten the condenser to the frame structure 18.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, the evaporator or cooling element 22embodies a casing 101, having a suitable access door 102 provided in itsfront portion. The casing 101 and the access door 102 are preferablycomposed of a material, such as cast iron, which has a high thermalstorage capacity. Supported upon the top of the casing 101 is anexpansion valve 103 provided with an inlet 104 for receiving refrigerantcondensate from the condenser. The outlet 105 of the expansion valve 'isconnected to an expansion coil 106 which is arranged interiorly of thecasing 101.

As shown in the drawings, the expansion coil 106 is arranged in directheat-conducting relation with both the side as well as the rear walls ofthe casing 101. The expansion coil 106 is preferably formed asillustrated in the drawings, its discharge end 107 connecting to afitting 108, for returning the refrigerant vapor to the compressor.Suitable brackets 109 are provided for holding the expansion coil 106 indirect metal-tometal contact with the walls of the casing 101. Brackets110 are also provided for retaining a plurality of ice trays 111 in themanner illustrated. I As shown in Fig. 1, a conduit 115 is provided forconveying refrigerant vapor from the outlet of the motor-pump unit 19 tothe intake manifold 91 of the condenser.

A conduit 116 is provided for conveying the condensed refrigerant to theinlet of the expansion valve 103, while the refrigerant vapor withdrawnfrom the expansion coil is conveyed by conduit 117 to the inlet 59 ofthe motor-pump unit 19.

From the foregoing description, the operition of our refrigerator willbe apparent. The refrigerator is first charged with a suitablerefrigerant, such as methyl chloride, and a suitable lubricant, such asmineral oil. -Upon the motor 40 being connected with a source ofelectrical energy, the compressor 51 is actuated and a reduction inpressure in the expansion coil 106 is effected, resulting invaporization of the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough and vin theabsorption of heat from the interior of the casing 101, as well as fromthe interior of the cooling chamber 13. The refrigerant vapor generatedin the expansion coil 1 06 is Withdrawn through the conduit 117 to theinlet chamber 58 of the motor pump unit 19. The refrigerant vapor entersthe cylinder 55 of the compressor when the intake ports 61 in the faceplate and in the cylinder are in communication. It is compressed anddischarged through the discharge ports 62 and spring valves 63 to theinterior of the casing 31. In other words, the discharge pressure of thecompressor prevails throughout the interior of the casing 31. The heatgenerated by the compressor is thus dissipated through the intermediaryof the refrigerant vapor to the walls of the casing while the motor heatis radiated directly through the walls of the casing.

Compressed refrigerant vapor leaves the casing 31 through the outlet 70and enters the intake manifold 91 of the condenser. The refrigerantvapor is divided between the two coils 93 and 94 and sufficient heat isabsorbed to effect condensation, the condensate draining into the lowerportion of both coils and leaving the condenser through the outletmanifold 92. The casing 95 of the condenser is formed in the shape of aflue so as to induce the natural circulation of cooling air upwardlythrough the casing and over the coils. As shown in Fig. 1, the casing ispref erably extended above the condenser to the top of the refrigeratorbox in order to obtain as much draft as possible. Upon attainment of aprede termined pressure in the evaporator, the expansion valve 103 opensto permit the condensed refrigerant to enter the expansion coil 106 in amanner well understood in the art.

As will be apparent from Figs. 10 and 11, the cooling element 22 is soarranged that the expansion coil is located in direct proximity with theice trays 111. Furthermore, the casing 101 entirely encloses theexpansion coil about the ice trays so that extremely rapid ice-making isassured. At the same time, the enclosing casing 101 is composed of amaterial having a high thermal storage capacity so that starting andstopping of the machine is made less frequent and a consequent economyin current consumption is effected. All these advantages are obtainedwithout the employment of a brine tank with its attendant disadvantages.

Lubrication of the compressor mechanism is effected in a novel manner bymeans of the pinion 73 and gear 74 which continually splash lubricantabout the lubricant chamber 78. The lubricant is thus deposited upon thevarious working parts and is afterwards returned to the lower portion ofthe casing. Suitable ducts 81 are provided for insuring positivelubrication of the bearings 45 and 46, while the ducts 83 and 84 insurethorough lubrication of the compressor cylinder. We have found alubricating system of the splash type to be extremely reliable andeffective for thoroughly lubricating the compression mechanism ofrefrigerators, especially of those types in which the compressionmechanism is, totally enclosed. The details of the compression andlubrication system are claimed in our divisional application Serial No.439,408, filed March 27, 1930 for Pump. for refrigerating apparatus.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have invented a novelform of refrigerating apparatus which embodies no external moving orworking parts. The entire apparatus is hermetically sealed so that thepossibility of leakage of either oil or refrigerant is eliminated. Atthe same time the arrangement of the parts is such that the entirerefrigerating apparatus may be readily removed from the refrigerator boxstructure to permit ready servicing.

While we have shown our invention in but one form. it will be obvious tothose skilled in the' art, that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specificallyset forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:-

1. A self-contained mechanical refrigerator comprising a cabinet havingsuperposed compartments including an insulated food storage compartmenthaving a movable closure and a machine compartment, an insulating'partition between said compartments, a compression unit disposed in themachine compartments, a removable portion formed in a wall of the foodstorage compartment, a heat absorbing unit mounted on said removableportion, a common supporting means for the compression mechanism and theremovable wall portion and refrigerant conduits operatively connectingthe compression and heat-absorbing units, said conduits extending for aconsiderable portion of their length substantially parallel to thecommon supporting means.

2. A self-contained mechanical refrigerator comprising a cabinetprovided with a pair of superposed compartments, one of saidcompartments being provided with insulated walls and a movable doormember for providing access to the compartment, one of said walls havinga removable portion, an evaporator unit mountedon said removableportion, a compression unit 1ocated in another of said compartments, acommon supporting means for the compression unit, the removable wallportion and the evaporator unit, and refrigerant conduits operativelyinterconnecting the compression and evaporator units.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a machinecompartment, and a heat insulated food storage compartment the lattercompartment being provided with a movabledoor closure member, saidcompartments being arranged vertically one above the other, acompression unit arranged in the machine compartment and-an evaporatorunit disposed in the food storage compartment, conduits connecting saidunits, a common support, independent of the cabinet, for saidcompression unit and said evaporator unit, said cabinet being soconstructed and arranged that the operatively connected evaporator unitand the compression unit may be removed from the rear of said cabinetthrough openings provided in the rear walls of the storage compartmentand the machine compartment respectively.

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet including an apparatuscompartment anda refrigerating compartment above said apparatuscompartment having an aperture in a wall thereof, and

refrigerating apparatus including a condensing unit, a frame, and anevaporator supported laterally from said frame, said refrigeratingapparatus adapted to be removably secured as a unit -in said cabinet, sothat the evaporator extends paratus unit being adapted, to be secured tosaid refrigerator cabinet so that the compressor unit is within theapparatus compartment, the condensers are within the flue, and theevaporator is withinthe refrigerating compartment.

6. A refrigerator including an apparatus compartment having air inletopenings therein, a flue extending vertically from the rear of saidapparatus compartment, 9, refrigerating compartment positioned abovesaid apparatus compartment and having an aperture in the'rear wallthereof, a refrigerating unit including a frame, a compressor mounted onsaid frame; a closure member for'said aperture mounted on said frame, anevaporator supported by said closure member and adapted to be insertedthrough said aperture, condensers mountedon said frame, saidrefrigerating unit adapted to be secured in such position that theevaporator is within the refrigerating chamber, the closure member sealsthe aperture the compressor is within, the apparatus chamber, andthecondensers are within said flue.

7. A refrigerator including an apparatus compartment, a refrigeratingcompartment above said apparatus compartment and formed in part by awall having an aperture therein, a flue at the rear of saidcompartments, an assembly .including a frame, a compressor mounted onsaid frame, a closure member for said aperture mounted on the frame, anevaporator supported by said closure member and adapted to be insertedthrough said aperture, and condensing means mounted on said frame, saidrefrigerating unit adapted to be secured in such position that theevaporator is within the refrigerating compartment, the closure memberseals the aperture, the

ing means mounted on the frame-for location in said chamber, and anevaporator and a motorcompressor unit connected in spaced relation onsaid frame.

9. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet formedwith an insulated foodcompartment, a lower apparatus compartment and a vertically-extendingdraft compartment, a refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporatorlocated in the food compartment and a refrigerant translating means insaid lower compartment, means providing for a flow of air in heatexchange relation-with said means, condensing means disposed in thedraft compartment, said draft compartment formed with an opening in thelower part thereof for receiving said air and an opening in the upperpart thereof for discharging said air, said refrigerating apparatusbeing removable from said cabinet as a unit. 10. In a refrigerating unitcomprising a refrigerator body having a refrigerating compartmentsuperimposed on a compartment having a mechanical refrigeratingapparatus, openings formed in both compartments, framework comprising ahorizontal'bracket extending into the lower compartment and a verticalmember extending up the back of the body in detachable relation thereto,a closure for the refrigerating compartment opening secured to saidvertical member, a freezer unit mounted on the inner face of saidclosure, and mechanical refrigerating apparatus supported by saidhorizontal bracket within the lower compartment.

11. In a refrigerator, the combination of a cabinet havingvertically-extending front and rear walls spaced substantially from eachother from the top to the bottom, an internally-extending partitiondividing the cabinet into an upper compartment and a lower machinerycompartment, refrigerating apparatus including a refrigerant translatingmechanism and an evaporator, said refrigerating compartment having adoor opening in the front wall thereof and an opening in the rear wallthereof for the insertion and removal of the evaporator, and saidmachinery compartment having an opening provided in the rear wallthereof for the insertion and removal of the refrigerant translatingmechanism, a supporting frame structure for the refrigerating apparatusand having an upper portion for supporting the evaporator within therefrigerator compartment and a lower portion for supporting therefrigerant translating mechanism beneath the evaporator within themachinery compartment, said supporting structure being constructed andarranged to provide for insertion and removal of the refrigeratingapparatus through the rear wall of the cabinet as a single assembly, and

a plug member carried by the supporting structure for sealing theopening in the refrigerator compartment.

12. A refrigerator section comprising a base portion and an uprightportion, refrigerating apparatus mounted in said refrigerator sectionincluding a cooling unit mounted on the upright portion and extendingsubstantially horizontally therefrom, a cabinet having an aperturetherein

